Uponor trainers recently taught a group of 200+ young girls about PEX systems at TXT 2012, a week-long exploration camp for girls promoting the worlds of technology and science at Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount, Minn.).

Girls at TXT 2012 not only learned about PEX in plumbing, fire sprinkler and radiant systems, but also how fun it can be to make hula hoops with the product. (Photo credits: Uponor).


Uponor Customer Trainer Steve Swanson and Training Manager Wes Cisco recently taught a group of 200+ young girls about PEX systems at TXT 2012, a week-long exploration camp for girls promoting the worlds of technology and science at Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount, Minn.). They were invited to speak about PEX tubing and its use in radiant heating and cooling, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems, as well as show the girls how to make ProPEX connections by making hula hoops out of PEX tubing.

Linda Foster, director of Instructional Technology at DCTC and the organizer of TXT 2012, started the program because she wanted girls to know that it is OK to explore career opportunities in the trades, get dirty and be smart.

Uponor’s Steve Swanson shows a group of girls at TXT 2012 how to make a ProPEX connection with a Milwaukee M12 ProPEX Expansion Tool.

“I wanted my daughters to have professional opportunities not limited by gender stereotypes, and I want other people’s daughters to know there are opportunities beyond traditional female careers,” she said.

At least once a year, I write a feature article in Plumbing & Mechanical about women in the plumbing industry. And while “Women in Plumbing” tends to focus on women running their own plumbing contracting businesses, I do write about women in the field repairing faucets, replacing toilets and water heaters, and digging trenches - smart women who love getting dirty. Click here to read about women plumbers in Georgia and New York.

Maybe we should expand our coverage to “Women in Heating.” Any women out there installing radiant heating, geothermal or solar thermal systems? Repairing boilers and water heaters? If you’re interested in telling your story, email me at faloonk@bnpmedia.com.

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